Noah Avinger tackles his Why Moment

By Kenneth Miller | Publisher

“Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.” -Genesis 7 (NIV)

EL SEGUNDO–It’s another hot day at the Bolt, the Chargers home training facility and it is also another day of Noah Avinger living out his dream as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Avinger recalls the watershed moment when it all happened.

“I was in Buena Park at my parents’ house. We were watching the (NFL) draft, just looking at all of the picks go by and just kind of waiting for my family to see when my name was gonna get called or I was gonna get a call,” Avinger told the South Bay Black Journal.

Avinger’s family did not get to see his name scroll across the screen, but he did get a call.

After going undrafted  Avinger got that call from the Chargers veteran Safety Coach Adam Fuller.

“I talked to coach Fuller and I ultimately decided to sign here, and it was an exciting moment. I am very blessed and thankful for the opportunity.”

And it is a long-shot opportunity, one that comes with a NFL minimum contract of only $8,000 guaranteed, but a million bucks  annually if he sticks with the team as one of four to six at the position.

“I just put my best foot forward each day. Being a sponge, you know, learn a lot. We have a lot of great vets and great coaches around here to talk and learn from,” he added.

This has been quite to journey for the 24-year old Anaheim Servite High School graduate who started his collegiate career at San Diego State, a stop at New Mexico before landing at Utah State where on Pro Day all of the work he put in training in Texas paid off.

SKIPPING TO THE BEAT-Chargers undrafted rookie Noah Avinger with one of the Bolts assistant coaches during practice at The Bolt in El Segundo. (KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)

Avinger ran a 4.62 40, performed a 42 inch vertical and board jumped 11 feet 4 inches. He also benched pressed 17 reps, drawing rave reviews from scouts throughout the league

Seven players from that Utah State Pro Day landed in NFL camps.

“That’s how we were at Utah State. We brought out the best in each other and we ultimately performed that day and were able to put up numbers like that. So, it was exciting to see,” he elaborated.

On this day, it was the first day of practice in shells and next is with the pads on, in of all places, San Diego, where it all began for Avinger.

“I’m exciting, you know. I love playing. That’s real football. So, you know at the end of the day when you put  the pads on that’s where you can really show  what you can do. I am ultimately excited, especially on this level, you know, you dream of it as a kid, growing up to be actually playing at this level.”

Avinger is playing behind a half dozen other guys, including superstar Derwin James at safety. It is a daunting task in front of him. He doesn’t have  the positional speed which is about 4.57 at the slowest, not to mentioned Ohio State’s Lorenzo Styles lightening combine record 4.27 and he wasn’t drafted until the 5th round.

The good news for Noah is the Chargers record in signing undrafted Free Agents. All time Charger great ,and NFL Hall of Fame Antonio Gates was not drafted.

“I am absolutely inspired by that. You know , it’s a little harder, but at the end of the day you got to keep that chip on your shoulder. regardless of where you were picked or where you came from, got that chip on my shoulder, because ultimately it’s football and you want to play at your best level.”

For Noah Avinger, football may just be the easiest part of this chapter in his life.

GIVING IT ALL HE’S GOT- Chargers rookie Safety Noah Avinger is one of many undrafted hopefuls aspiring to live out their dream to play in the NFL. (KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)

In the spring he lost his most treasured supporter when his grandmother passed, something he has expressed the pain he endures, but relishes valuable  lessons he learned from her.

“My Nana was like a second mother. We grew up together, all in the same household, so losing her was like extra fuel to my fire. Extra purpose. It was my Why moment. Like yeah at the end of the day you want to play this game for your why, and that just made my why a little bit bigger. I am just here. blessed and thankful for the opportunity because that’s what she would want me to do, and have fun out here, and just be present in the moment because that’s what My Nana  always ways talk about with me. So it just fuels my fire even more.”